Linking Community-Based
Entrepreneurial Development
and Natural Resource
Management
Ruth McWilliams
National Sustainable Development Coordinator
USDA Forest Service
New American Communities E-Search Conference
December 10, 2002
Entrepreneurship
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Focuses on individuals or groups…
not businesses
Applies to public as well as private
sector
Public role – Building communities
Private role – Building businesses
(Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)
Entrepreneurial
Development
U.S. is one of the most entrepreneurial
countries in the world
(Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership)
Key individual attributes:
Motivation – spark, vision, drive, energy
Capacity – business skills, networking,
partnering
(Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)
Community Roles
Create positive community climate for
entrepreneurship
Provide basic community infrastructure,
keeping pace with needs
Package community support for local
entrepreneurs
(Center for Rural Entrepreneurship)
Sustainability as the Goal
Starts with a commitment to the land
Links people and natural resources
Addresses all sectors and functions
of society
Embraces civic involvement
Creates opportunities and preserves
choices
Sustainable Development
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Is present and future oriented
Connects environmental, social,
and economic concerns
Is place-based
Present and Future
Oriented
“…the capacity to
meet the needs of
the present without
compromising the
ability of future
generations to meet
their own needs”
(Brundtland Commission, 1987)
Environmental, Social,
and Economic Dimensions
“…to enhance human productivity,
reduce poverty and foster economic
growth and opportunity together with
environmental quality”
(U.S. Government Vision Statement for World
Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002)
Place-Based
“We believe sustainable development
begins at home…”
(U.S. Government Vision Statement for World
Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002)
Conservation in the
21st Century
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Short- and long-term focus
Comprehensive / simultaneous
solutions
Public and private sector
collaboration
Place-based actions at multiple
scales
USDA-Forest Service Mission
“Sustain the health, diversity, and
productivity of the nation’s forests and
grasslands to meet the needs of present
and future generations”
(FS Strategic Plan, 2000 Revision)
Land Type in the
United States
Other
26%
Cropland
20%
Rangeland
Forestland
26%
28%
(FS RPA Assessment, 2000)
Forest Land Ownership
in the U.S.
NonIndustrial
Private
Landowners
52.2%
State & Local Government
9.3%
Forest Industry
9.1%
Federal
Government
27.4%
(FS RPA Assessment, 2000)
Stakeholders
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Federal agencies
Tribal, state, and local units of
government
Private landowners
Business and industry
Conservation and environmental groups
Regional and community-based
organizations
Other citizens
Forums and Networks

Multi-stakeholder Roundtables
Communities Committee of the 7th
American Forest Congress
National Network of Forest Practitioners
National Urban & Community Forestry
Advisory Council
Alliance of Community Trees
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Lots more!
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Criteria for Sustainable
Forest Management
Biological diversity
Productive capacity of forest ecosystems
Forest ecosystem health and vitality
Soil and water resources
Forest contribution to global carbon cycles
Socio-economic benefits
Legal, institutional, and economic framework
(Montreal Process, involving 12 countries including U.S.)
History of U.S.
Commitment
1992 Earth Summit
1993 International Seminar of Experts;
and Presidential Decision
1995 Santiago Declaration
1999 Roundtable on Sustainable Forests
2000 Federal Interagency Cooperation
2003 National Report on Sustainable Forests
(Check FS webpage for document with more history)
Roundtable on
Sustainable Forests
National multi-stakeholder forum
focusing on sustainable forest
management through:

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Better data
Better information
Better decisions
(Website: http://www.sustainableforests.net)
Multiple SectorBased Efforts
Forests
Rangelands
Minerals / Energy
Water
Resource-Related Issues

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Forest fragmentation and conversion,
especially in urbanizing areas
Water quality and quantity, and
watershed restoration
Fire prevention and restoration,
especially in the wildland/urban
interface
Resource Issues,
continued
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Exotic and invasive plants replacing
native systems
Stewardship jobs and business
opportunities
Forest land ownership changes
Ecological benefits as community
services
Local to Global Actions
Local Unit Criteria & Indicator
Development (LUCID)
Community-based measurement
State resource planning
Eco-regional and national-level
assessments
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
Leadership Issues

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Address issues broad in scope
Work at multiple scales
Work across boundaries
Work with reduced resources
Mobilize partners and stakeholders
Work for meaningful outcomes
Challenge
Make sustainable forest and
resource management real
to people where they live, work,
and play in urban, suburban,
and rural places
Basic Premises

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Vital communities are part of healthy
ecosystems
No community is in and of itself
sustainable
Communities represent a scale and set
of interactions that people can
comprehend and affect
Sustainable Community
Model
Interconnected and integrated
Environment Economy
Economy
Society
Society
Environment
(Maureen Hart, Sustainable Measures)
Grassroots Opportunities

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Strengthen rural-urban linkages through
regional cooperation
Protect “working lands” in rural as well
as urbanizing areas
Integrate “green infrastructure” into
local and regional plans
Educate landowners about sustainable
resource management practices
Opportunities, continued
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Unlock small business alternatives
Reduce water pollution from land-based
activities through agroforestry
Address the impact of invasive species
on agricultural and natural resources
Foster intergovernmental and civic
involvement in sustainable resource
management
Benefits of Collaboration

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Add expertise and resources to
process
Gain additional perspectives on
solutions
Develop common information and
data bases
Build ownership and support for
decisions
Develop trusting relationships
Forest Service Vision
“People working together,
sharing knowledge and resources,
to achieve desired futures
for our forests and communities.”
(FS National Collaborative Stewardship Team, 1997)
Many Approaches

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Search Conferencing / Participative
Design Workshops
Communities of Interest / Open Space
Decision-Making
Collaborative Learning
Economic Renewal
Lots of ‘home grown’ methods
Multiple Community
Concepts

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Communities
of Place
Communities
of Interest
Spectrum of Methods
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Assisted negotiations
e.g., facilitation, mediation,
conflict assessment
Consensus-based processes
e.g., community-based
collaborations, negotiated
rulemaking, policy dialogues
Public & Private
Investments
Conservation
Practices
Community
Planning
Sustainability
Landowner
Planning
Public
Education
Development
Tools
Collaboration Lessons
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Build common ground
Create new opportunities for interaction
Craft meaningful, effective, and enduring
processes
Focus on problem in new/different ways
Foster sense of responsibility and commitment
Remember…partnerships are people
Use proactive and entrepreneurial approach
Get help…give help
(Wondolleck and Yaffee)
Collaboration Needs
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Commitment – Support innovators
Internal communication – Involve staff in
projects
External communication – Do outreach
to key stakeholders
Competence – Provide training and
technical support
Credibility – Fund and do monitoring
(Brett KenCairn, Indigenous Community Enterprises)
Measuring Progress
Substance
Progress
Triangle
Procedures
Relationships
(Steve Daniels on Collaborative Learning)
Desired Community
Indicators?
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Increased use of the skills, knowledge, and abilities
of local people
Strengthened relationships and communication
Improved community initiative, responsibility, and
adaptability
Developed appropriately diverse and healthy
economies, including family-wage jobs and locally
owned businesses
Sustained healthy ecosystems with multiple
community benefits
(FS Economic Action Programs Strategic Plan, 2000)
Recap of Key Concepts
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Entrepreneurship
Sustainable development
Sustainable forest / resource
management
Collaboration
Measurement
Criteria and indicators
Contact Information
Ruth McWilliams
National Sustainable Development Coordinator
USDA – Forest Service
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Stop Code 1123
Washington, D.C. 20250-1123
Phone: 202/205-1373; Fax: -1174
rmcwilliams@fs.fed.us
www.fs.fed.us/sustained